My experience, as I said before, is I got involved with a cooperative because I went to an annual meeting. I was nominated and then elected, and before I knew what had happened I was sitting on the local board of directors. But I say that a little bit tongue in cheek, because in what we're trying to implement, if you're going to be part of the community at a local co-op level you need to engage that community. And that might be going out and asking people to serve on the local board, people you've identified as potential leaders in the community, and then, as they become involved, getting them access to those training and learning programs to develop their skills and hone their skills in understanding governance.
Governance of a cooperative is different. You're absolutely right, we're exactly the same as you. Every three years I have to go back into my district and get re-elected by the constituents of that district. My responsibility is to represent them at the FCL board table in making decisions, first and foremost, for the Federated Co-operatives, but also with the responsibility for the communication back to the community. Sometimes that's not easy, because sometimes we have to make decisions that aren't always favourable back in those home communities, but it's better for the organization and the consumer cooperative movement as a whole. You very much are a politician. So I respect your chosen career path, because I know what it's like.
Hopefully that answers your question.